Residents and visitors to Ballito have a new way to stay in the know, thanks to the launch of the Ballito Official App, unveiled at Conchilla on Saturday.

Designed to be a one-stop guide for events, nightlife and local business listings, the app aims to connect the community and boost tourism.

Mel Manson, the developer behind the app, explained how the idea was sparked.

“This app was born from frustration, the Monday morning FOMO. I’d see amazing social posts of weekend events, and think, how did I miss that? No matter how much I scrolled, I couldn’t find a clear picture of what was actually happening in Ballito. So, we built the solution,” said Manson.

The app covers everything from weekend markets to live music and restaurant specials. It also features a separate section for local sales to avoid cluttering the events feed.

Manson revealed that just three weeks ago, South African Tourism Services approached her to use the app to help attract visitors to Ballito, a town that has experienced a six-year tourism decline.

In response, a group of 20 local businesses came together to launch a national campaign.

Running from April 16 to July 15, 2025, the campaign includes a luxury getaway prize for two. The package features hotel stays, game drives, quad biking, spa treatments, fine dining, and even a car for use during the trip. The prize is valued at over R100 000 and can be redeemed until December.

The campaign has already reached over 4-million people, with influencers like Dala U Crew, Aphiwe Mjaja, and Levi Green joining in to showcase the area’s appeal. The competition can be found in the app.

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